As a sonographer it is necessary to record the result of the ultrasound accurately and within a timely manner. This includes commenting on the sonographic appearance of both normal and abnormal organs, including appropriate measurements and diagrams as necessary.

This task will assess your ability to record the results of a modified thyroid sonographic examination, after you have completed your practical pre-test. This will also provide formative feedback for the practical skills test on the thyroid in Week 10.

Schedule of Test

• Students will be given five minutes to complete the ultrasound worksheet, following the practical (pre-test) examination.
• Students will review images on the ultrasound machine.

This is a PASS or FAIL assessment. In order for a student to achieve a pass in this assessment:

• Students must achieve a mark of 65% or higher.
• In the event that a student fails to reach this standard, an opportunity will be given for the student to resit the assessment test once.
• A repeat of the assessment will be done at a suitable time, on campus, using images provided by the unit coordinator.
• The week 8 worksheet assessment is a summative assessment and as such, there will be no option to repeat this test.

Pass/Fail Assessment Items:

• As per the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) item 4.62, 'In non-graded (pass/fail) units, all assessment tasks must be submitted by the due date. Students who fail a single assessment task in a pass/fail unit, or who fail a pass/fail component of a graded unit will be deemed to have failed that unit.'

SKILLS TEST THYROID

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment.

This assessment challenges your ability to perform routine sonographic scanning techniques and image optimisation/ acquisition of the thyroid in a reasonable time period to advanced beginner level. It will be assessed using the Assessment of Readiness for Clinical tool (ARC tool). Furthermore, it will assess aspects of a sonographic exam such as communication (verbal, non-verbal and written), professional behaviour, ergonomics, infection control and patient care skills. In summary this is an assessment of the pre-scan, scanning, and post-scan skills that are further discussed and emphasised in the unit assessment moodle site, instructed labs, lectures and tutorials.

To achieve a pass, each assessment must be passed individually as these indicate the required standard to progress to the first clinical placement. The following lists the sub-assessment items:

Professional (pre-scan and post-scan) requirements:

• Apply patient care techniques and effective communication to obtain relevant patient history, informed consent, and to direct 'patients' accordingly.
• Apply professionalism in dealing with equipment and the scanning setting.

Scanning Requirements:

• You are required to perform routine sonographic techniques and image optimisation of the thyroid in a reasonable time period, to advanced beginner level.
• Thyroid ultrasound skills test – scanning time limit is 15 minutes. It will entail assessment of the overall thyroid gland, cervical chain, and ONE (1) lobe only (either right or left lobe). This selection will be randomly drawn on testing day, thus BOTH lobes must be practised.

To pass this assessment, both the professional and technical components must be graded as a ‘pass’. The components are graded separately so that if one is passed and the other is not, only the failed component must be repeated to pass. If the student has failed only the professional component, the full assessment will be repeated, but the student will only be marked on the professional component. There is only ONE opportunity to re-sit either component of the assessment item.

There is only ONE (1) opportunity to re-sit either component of the assessment item in Week 12.

Please carefully review the assessment information, scanning protocol, and ARC Tool posted on the unit Moodle site.

SKILLS TEST THYROID

• A pass rate of 65% of available marks in EACH component of the practical and professional behaviour must be achieved to pass the assessment.
• As per The Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) item 4.62, 'In non-graded (pass/fail) units, all assessment tasks must be submitted by the due date. Students who fail a single assessment task in a pass/fail unit, or who fail a pass/fail component of a graded unit will be deemed to have failed that unit.'
• The sonography tutor will observe the student's performance of the full scanning procedure and assess each task relative to the stated standards of the Assessment of Readiness for Clinical (ARC) tool. The ARC tool and supporting details can be found on the unit Moodle site.
• The skills test will assess scanning technique, image optimisation, demonstration of required anatomy on images obtained, and adherence to scan protocols. The non-scanning component will assess communication, professional behaviour, patient care, infection control, and ergonomics.

Re-evaluations:

• The minimum pass rate on the skills test is 65%. If the student achieves 60-64.5% their images will be cross-marked by a second assessor.
• In the event that a student does not achieve a minimum of 65% or higher during the week 10 skills test, they will be given ONE opportunity to re-sit the practical test in week 12. This practical test will be conducted by a different assessor to that of the first test. Please be aware that all re-sits will be video recorded for tutor/unit coordinator moderation purposes and will not be released to students.

There will be 2 online quizzes which will be held in weeks 5 and 12. Once available, quizzes are open for 32 hours (i.e. open at 10 am on Tuesday and close Wednesday at 6pm AEST).

The content of these quizzes will be anatomy, scanning planes, image optimisation, pathology, patient care, medico-legal aspects, communication, ergonomics, sonographic terminology and infection control. The purpose of these quizzes is to ensure adequate review of theory from year 1, and that sufficient preparation has been undertaken prior to labs.

Once the quiz has commenced, approximately 1 minute per question will be given, for example, a 10 question quiz would be given a time limit of 10 minutes to complete. This is subject to change at the discretion of the unit coordinator based on the content of the pool of questions.

Quiz dates and topics are available on the unit Moodle site.

No attempts are permitted after the quiz has closed, so ensure adequate time for completion.

Students must achieve a cumulative pass rate of 70% across the TWO (2) quizzes to pass this component. Answers will be either correct or incorrect and tabulated by the Moodle online unit system.

Pass/fail units

As per the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) item 4.62, 'In non-graded (pass/fail) units, all assessment tasks must be submitted by the due date. Students who fail a single assessment task in a pass/fail unit, or who fail a pass/fail component of a graded unit will be deemed to have failed that unit.

Professional behaviour is a critical part of any medical imaging profession, and encompasses the manners in which we treat out colleagues, patients and the professional settings and equipment provided to us. The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that students from the medical sonography course are well-equipped to embody the high standards of professionalism that are expected from CQUniversity students while on their upcoming clinical placements. As such, this assessment is based on a continuous and ongoing assessment of student application and attendance during labs, and extending to professional behaviours throughout the unit.

This includes participation in forums and online tutorials, labs, social media etiquette, phone calls, attitude toward peers, and staff, and all official correspondence with university staff, peers and community. In doing so, it replicates the clinical environment to assist with the transition to your first clinical placement later in the year, and to provide support and formative feedback in preparation for MEDS12004 -Scanning Skills Development 1, undertaken in Term 2.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment. This assessment is scored using a demerit point system, in which a MAXIMUM of three demerit points can be issued before the assessment is graded as a fail, i.e. if a fourth demerit point is issued, the assessment will be graded as a fail.

All interactions with staff and peers pertaining to this unit will be treated as a replica of the clinical work environment. You will be expected to demonstrate all of the professional behaviours that will be expected of you in a formal work environment. Demerit points can be issued in three different categories:

1. Professional behaviours towards colleagues and staff

2. Professional behaviours towards patients.

3. Professional behaviours towards professional settings and equipment.

Expected behaviours and their relevance to the clinical environment are listed on the unit moodle site for each of these categories. You must review this information and be aware of what is expected of you for this unit. Please be aware that completion of the “Application and Attendance Record” is included in this assessment. You will be required to fill out a Formative Feedback Form for each of your labs.

It is very important that you review and familiarize yourself with the CODE OF CONDUCT as well as the ASAR CODE OF CONDUCT and the CQU CODE OF CONDUCT, all posted on the unit Moodle site, for further information on the professional conduct required in this unit.

If unprofessional behaviour is reported by fellow classmates and not witnessed by a staff member, a written warning detailing the allegations will be issued to the student with documentation of the student’s response. If further evidence of an on-going unprofessional behaviour surfaces then a demerit may be issued. All incidents of unprofessional behaviour are reported to the Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching) for monitoring throughout the duration of your course and may involve the initiation of formalised misconduct procedures.

This assessment requires you to upload the document “Application & Attendance Record” in week 9 which encompasses all these aspects.This document is available on the unit moodle site.

Up to THREE demerit points can be issued before the assessment is graded as a FAIL. However, if any exhibited behaviour is deemed as UNSAFE for clinical practice, the professional behaviour assessment will be graded as a FAIL at the discretion of the unit co-ordinator. This is reflective of your clinical units where such behaviour results in a notice to withdraw immediately from the clinical site and unit.

When a demerit point is issued, it will be discussed between the student and either the on-site lecturer or the unit coordinator. Written documentation explaining the reason for the issued demerit will be signed by the on-site lecturer or the unit coordinator, and sent to the student via email.

A maximum of THREE demerit points can be obtained to pass this unit - any more than three and the assessment is graded as a FAIL.

Students are required to submit, the "Application and Attendance" Record with the student's signature, and upload via the unit Moodle site, by Week 9 prior to the practical skills test. Details outlining parameters, behaviours and expectations can be found on the unit Moodle site. All fields on the record sheet must be completed, with all labs signed and dated by your tutor for that specific lab.

As per the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) item 4.62, 'In non-graded (pass/fail) units, all assessment tasks must be submitted by the due date. Students who fail a single assessment task in a pass/fail unit, or who fail a pass/fail component of a graded unit will be deemed to have failed that unit.'